AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door II Full Card Predictions: Which promotion wins the show?

AEW and NJPW are bringing fans Forbidden Door II on June 25 and there’s a lot to look forward to with this massive event.

Last summer, AEW, and NJPW put on a dream event that didn’t seem possible, even in the early days of AEW (the old NJPW President didn’t take too kindly to Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and Cody Rhodes leaving them to form AEW). Forbidden Door was referred to as being snake-bitten because there were a number of injuries and NJPW wrestlers couldn’t get to AEW until the last minute.

Even with all of its issues affecting the build of the show, Forbidden Door was one of the best events in all of wrestling. Daily DDT writers voted it as Event of the Year. The show featured the AEW debut of Claudio Castagnoli, PAC was crowned the inaugural AEW All-Atlantic (now International) Champion, and Hiroshi Tanahashi challenged Jon Moxley for the interim AEW World Championship.

Let’s take a look at the card for Forbidden Door II.

Athena vs. Billie Starkz – Owen Hart Cup tournament match

This match will be on the pre-show, Zero Hour. Billie Starkz is a wrestling prodigy and signed with AEW before turning 18. Although she graduated high school earlier this month, she has wrestled all over the US and in TJPW.

Athena is currently the most dominant women’s champion in ROH history. She won her 27th consecutive match on Thursday’s episode of ROH. There’s no way her winning streak ends before 30. Athena will advance and may even win the Owen Cup while keeping her dominant streak intact.

Winner: Athena

Adam Cole vs. “Filthy” Tom Lawlor

On Rampage, Adam Cole was in the ring to cut a promo when he was interrupted by his Blind Tag Team Tournament partner, MJF. MJF informed him that he asked Tony Khan to book Cole in a match at Forbidden Door II against “Filthy” Tom Lawlor. Lawlor then attacked Cole.

Lawlor is a former MMA fighter turned wrestler. He’s been killing it in NJPW STRONG, where he was STRONG Champion for a year. Last year, he had a fantastic match with Jon Moxley in DEFY Wrestling.

Winner: Adam Cole

Sting, Darby Allin, & TBA vs. Le Suzuki Gods (Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, & Minoru Suzuki)

Last week, Sting and Chris Jericho came face to face for the first time ever in a wrestling ring. Jericho called Sting a variety of names and said he was egotistical. Jericho dubbed himself, Sammy Guevara, and Minoru Suzuki “Le Suzuki Gods” before challenging Sting and Darby Allin to find a partner to face them on Sunday.

Allin reminded Jericho that he has a lot of enemies all over the world and they have the perfect partner.

Winner: Sting, Darby Allin, & TBA

CM Punk vs. Satoshi Kojima – Owen Hart Cup tournament match

In another Owen Hart Cup Tournament match, CM Punk will face Satoshi Kojima in a dream match for Punk and Tony Khan.

Kojima is highly decorated and is considered one of the greatest Japanese wrestlers of all time. He was the first wrestler ever to win the IWGP Heavyweight Championship and AJPW’s Triple Crown Championship simultaneously. He is one of three men to ever hold the aforementioned titles and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. On top of multiple singles championships, he’s also a decorated tag team champion.

Punk has also held many championships, including the AEW World Championship twice. He was the WWE Champion for 443 days, the seventh-longest reign.

Winner: CM Punk advances

Willow Nightingale vs. Toni Storm (c)- AEW Women’s Championship

Willow Nightingale won the NJPW STRONG Championship at NJPW’s Resurgence, becoming the inaugural champion. Due to her NJPW title win, many assumed she’d be putting her title on the line.

Instead, she’ll be challenging Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s Championship. The women have been part of a months-long feud between their respective factions, The Outcasts vs. The Originals. Storm and her Outcasts cohorts have been terrorizing the AEW Originals. Nightingale and Skye Blue defeated Storm and Ruby Soho on the inaugural episode of Collision.

Storm wrestled Thunder Rosa on Forbidden Door last year for the AEW Women’s Championship and came up short.

Winner: Toni Storm retains

Orange Cassidy vs. Daniel Garcia vs. Katsuyori Shibata vs. Zack Sabre, Jr. – AEW International Championship

On the go-home show of Dynamite, Orange Cassidy teamed up with Katsuyori Shibata to take on Zack Sabre, Jr. and Daniel Garcia. After the match, all four men had their hands on the International Championship. Cassidy snatched his title away.

Garcia nearly dethroned Cassidy a couple of weeks ago. Shibata is the ROH Pure Champion while ZSJ holds the IWGP Television Championship. Cassidy has been the most dominant champion in AEW, defending his title more than anyone else.

Winner: Orange Cassidy retains

SANADA (c) vs. Jack “Jungle Boy” Perry – IWGP Heavyweight Championship

On the June 14 episode of Dynamite, IWGP Heavyweight Champion, SANADA, issued an open challenge to anyone on the AEW roster to face him for his title. Later in the episode, a surprising contender emerged.

Jack “Jungle Boy” Perry stated in an interview segment with Renee Paquette that he was answering the challenge. He has previously stated that he was going to win gold in 2023.

Many fans are overlooking this match because Perry was so unlikely to accept this match. Fans underestimated SANADA before winning the title earlier this year. Weeks after competing for the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing, this match is easily the biggest match of Perry’s career. This could be a sleeper match.

Winner: SANADA retains 

The Elite vs. Blackpool Combat Club

Just a few weeks ago, The Elite lost to Blackpool Combat Club at Double or Nothing, thanks in part to Konosuke Takeshita siding with BCC. With Kenny Omega and Bryan Danielson in big singles matches, each team was looking for additional members.

Jon Moxley called on his wrestling son, Shota Umino to join BCC and Takeshita. Last week on Dynamite, Eddie Kingston returned to assist The Elite in a surprising moment. He nearly came to blows with his best friend, Mox. Mox joining a faction with his number one enemy, Claudio Castagnoli has pushed Kingston to align with men he doesn’t like or trust. He choose Tomohiro ISHII (who he trusts a little bit more) to join his side.

This will be one of the best matches of the night. The Elite will get their win back to even the score at 1-1 and set up for match three at ALL IN at Wembley Stadium.

Winner: The Elite, Eddie Kingston, and Tomohiro ISHII

MJF (c) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi  – AEW World Championship

Before last year’s Forbidden Door, MJF repeatedly talked trash about NJPW. During the Double or Nothing media scrum, the AEW World Champion called the promotion an “indie fed” and downplayed any significance.

Tanahashi took exception to MJF’s comments. He reminded him that he was very close to beating Moxley last year to hold the very title he has around his waist. NJPW’s ace challenged “The Salt of the Earth” to a title match. When told of the match being made, MJF immediately said no and reminded fans that he’d no-showed a title match before.

Winner: MJF retains

Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson

“The American Dragon” vs. “The Rainmaker”. Danielson vs. Okada.

This is one of the biggest dream matches in all of pro wrestling and has been for a long time. Kazuchika Okada and Bryan Danielson are two of the best in the world. For the first time ever, anywhere, Danielson vs. Okada is finally happening.

At NJPW’s DOMINION, Okada was in a six-man against BCC sans Danielson. Following the match, a promo from “Dragon” began to play. He takes exception to the fact that the former IWGP Heavyweight Champion calls himself the best in the world. Danielson stated he “is the litmus test of great.”

This match will easily make a case for Match of the Year.

Winner: Kazuchika Okada

Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega (c) – IWGP US Championship

Another match made at DOMINION was Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega. Ospreay defeated Lance Archer to face Omega for the IWGP US Championship.

Omega vs. Ospreay faced each other at Wrestle Kingdom 17 in what is widely called the Match of the Year (this match happened on January 4, mind you). Omega defeated Ospreay to become US Champion.

Ospreay is coming off a shoulder injury that forced him to withdraw from the New Japan Cup in March. He has previously said his strength was a concern. They will no doubt attempt to top their previous matchup.

Omega will take advantage of Ospreay’s recovering shoulder to retain. This could set up a third match at ALL IN where Ospreay can finally pick up the win in his hometown of London.

Winner: Kenny Omega retains 

Forbidden Door II will be live on Sunday, June 25 from the ScotiaBank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Zero Hour begins at 7 PM ET, followed by the main show at 8 PM ET.